dum
/dom/
The Danish word for stupid is dum.
dum is used to describe someone or something that is lacking in intelligence.
Meaning: lacking in intelligence (adj)
Which one should you use?
tåbelig is used to convey a sense of being foolish or silly.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its form based on the noun it describes: use dumme for plural nouns or when the noun is in the definite form, and use dumt when describing a neuter noun (et-nouns).
How do you pronounce it?
/dom/
Did you know?
- The adjective dum can be intensified with the word pisse, resulting in pisse-dum. While pisse means 'urine', in this context it acts as a common intensifier similar to 'extremely'.
- In some Danish contexts, describing a situation as dum can be a way of expressing sympathy, similar to saying 'that is a shame'.
- While dum means 'stupid' in Danish, it is an exact cognate of the English word 'dumb', which traditionally referred to someone unable to speak.
Examples in context
- Du ser dum ud.You look stupid.This sentence is useful for showing how to use dum to describe an appearance.Tatoeba #1805687 by danepo, translation #1644 by CK
- Tom er ikke dum.Tom isn't stupid.This sentence is useful for using dum in a negative statement about a person.Tatoeba #2354945 by danepo, translation #1024679 by CK
- Jeg er ikke dum.I am not stupid.This sentence is useful for using dum in a negative statement about oneself.Tatoeba #2858127 by danepo, translation #2857953 by CM
- Det var en tåbelig beslutning.That was a foolish decision.
- Det var dumt at glemme nøglen.It was silly to forget the key.
- Anders lavede en tåbelig joke.Anders made a stupid joke.
- Han opførte sig dumt.He acted stupidly.
- 47 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mette and Noah are discussing a bad decision made by a character in a movie.
- MetteHvorfor gør han det? Han er så dum!Why is he doing that? He is so stupid!
- NoahJa, det var en meget dum plan.Yes, that was a very stupid plan.
- MetteJeg håber ikke, Noah er lige så dum.I hope Noah is not just as stupid.
- NoahDet er jeg helt sikker på, at jeg ikke er.I am quite sure that I am not.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stupid” translations and entries dum, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
